Is Taqlid (imitation) like following the Imam in Iqtidha?
They say that we follow and obey only the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, but under the guidance of Imam Azam Abu Hanifa, the example is like this: In congregational prayer, there is one Imam and the rest are followers. The Imam says Takbeer-e-Tahreema, and the followers also say it, but after the Imam and in following the Imam, both the Imam’s and the follower’s Takbeer-e-Tahreema are for Allah. The Imam stands, the follower also stands, but both stand for Allah, yet the follower’s standing is in following the Imam. The Imam bows (Ruku), the follower also bows; both bow for Allah, but the follower bows in following the Imam. The Imam prostrates (Sajdah), the follower also prostrates; both prostrate for Allah, but the follower’s prostration is behind and in following the Imam. The Imam raises his head from bowing and prostration, the follower also raises his head, but after the Imam and in following the Imam. Similarly, the Tashahhud is also like this. In short, in congregational prayer, the Imam performs the pillars of prayer, and the follower also performs them, but the follower always remains behind the Imam and does not move ahead; if he moves ahead, according to the Hadith, he will be a donkey. Now if a non-Muslim says that the Imam’s Takbeer-e-Tahreema is for Allah, the follower’s is for the Imam; the Imam’s standing is for Allah, the follower’s standing is for the Imam; the Imam’s bowing is for Allah, the follower’s bowing is for the Imam; the Imam’s prostration is for Allah, the follower’s prostration is for the Imam; the Imam’s sitting is for Allah, the follower’s Tashahhud is for the Imam; the Imam’s Salaam is for Allah, and the follower’s Salaam is for the Imam.
Answer:-
Firstly:-
Our brother has this misconception because he considered personal taqlid (imitation) and following an Imam (iqtida) as synonymous terms. Whereas there is a difference in the meanings of these words, as explained earlier. (Taqlid is the act of following someone’s statement without evidence) whereas the word iqtida means to do a similar act in following someone.
The Divine instruction is that
أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۖ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ
meaning: These are the people whom Allah has guided, so follow their guidance.
The lexicographers have explicitly stated that the word iqtida is used in the sense of “اسوہ“.
Keeping this meaning in mind, the clear purpose of your argument is that just as Imam Abu Hanifa performed ijtihad, you should also perform ijtihad; just as he did not follow anyone blindly, you should not follow anyone blindly.
Secondly:-
In personal imitation, you claim that it is necessary and obligatory to follow only one Imam. If one follows someone else at any time, they will be misguided and religion will become a toy.
Maulana Muhammad Ismail Sambhali Hanafi Deobandi cautiously states that
“In this era of irreligion, lack of intellect, and selfishness, personal imitation is necessary and obligatory.”
Dear readers, now that you have understood this matter well, the question arises: do the followers hold the same position regarding the leading Imam that one should pray only behind one Imam and praying behind another Imam separately is irreligion and misguidance? If the Deobandis hold this position that one should pray only behind one Imam, then listen, there is no one more illiterate and ignorant in the world than you. If you do not hold such a view regarding following the leading Imam, certainly you do not, then how has this become a proof for personal imitation? In short, this proof does not support your claim at all.
Thirdly:-
Prophet Muhammad Mustafa صلى الله عليه وسلم led the prayer behind Abdul Rahman bin Awf رضي الله عنه
مسلم كتاب الصلاة باب تقديم الجماعة من يصلى بهم اذا تاخذ الامام ‘
This authentic hadith proves that a knowledgeable person can lead the prayer behind a less knowledgeable person. In other words, understand that a mujtahid (one who exercises independent reasoning) can pray behind a layman. My brother, when in your view leading the prayer and following (taqlid) are the same thing, then can a mujtahid also follow an ignorant and incompetent person?
Fourthly:-
The command to follow the Imam has been stated by the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم as
(انما جعل الامام ليؤتم به )
meaning the Imam is appointed so that he is followed.
Please kindly read a similar hadith yourself that conveys the meaning that Imam Abu Hanifa was created so that you continue to follow him. If you can show any such authentic, connected, elevated hadith, we are ready to accept it. If you cannot show it, then keep this flawed assumption to yourself. The Ahl al-Hadith do not accept such worthless gifts.
Fifthly:-
Some weak hadiths permit praying behind every sinful and immoral person.
These narrations are weak, so they are not our position, but the Hanafis accept them, which has been explained in the commentary
by Maulana Fakhr al-Hasan Gangohi. Ibn Hummam states that although this narration is disconnected, in our view it is acceptable and of the grade Hasan (good).
According to the Hanafis, it is permissible to follow a sinful and immoral person in prayer.
The question is, in your view, is it also permissible to follow a sinful, immoral, and innovator? If it is permissible, then congratulations. Perhaps for this reason, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi, while following Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani in “Ahkam-e-Islam Aqal ki Nazar Mein,” derived the philosophy of rulings from his book “Islami Usool ki Falsafi.” In fact, he quoted pages and pages from more than a dozen books of Mirza Qadiani, the details of which our Sheikh Maulana Muhammad Yahya Gondalvi, may Allah preserve him, has recorded in his rare work, مطرۃ الحدید. And your respected teacher Maulana Sarfaraz Khan Sahib Safdar, in blind devotion (taqlid) to Thanwi Sahib, presented the statements of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani through Thanwi Sahib as proof of the belief in Hayat al-Nabi ﷺ. Here, for the interest of the readers, we quote the statements of both.
Text of Maulana Safdar Sahib:
So this matter that souls have a connection with graves should be taken from the perspective of one who has been shown to some extent by a somewhat insightful eye that souls have a connection with that lump of soil, and by saying السلام علیکم یا اھل القبور an answer is obtained. A person who uses those powers from which unveiling occurs can see these connections. In short, the soul’s connection with the grave is necessary; a human can converse with the deceased. Souls also have a connection with the heavens, where a place is allotted for them, and this is such a universally accepted matter that even in Hindu scriptures there is testimony to it. So this issue is generally an established matter except for that misguided sect which denies the survival of the soul.
Text of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani:
So the matter that souls have a connection with graves should be seen from this perspective, and the insightful eye has revealed that the soul has a connection with this lump of earth, and the response is found by saying السلام علیکم یا اہل القبور. Therefore, the person who uses those powers through which the unveiling of graves is possible
(In short, the soul definitely has a connection with the grave, a person can speak to the deceased, the soul also has a connection with the heavens where a place is assigned for it. I repeat that this is an established truth, and even in Hindu scriptures there is testimony to this. This issue is generally accepted except by the sect that denies the survival of the soul).
Read these two statements; they are exactly as they are, except for the words ‘ka’, ‘ki’, ‘ke’. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also quoted this in support of the belief. It appears that in the Deobandi school of thought, the belief in Hayat al-Nabi (the life of the Prophet) came through imitation of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani. These are all imitative afflictions from which may Allah protect every Muslim. آمین یاالہ العالمین
Sixthly:-
As for the response to the non-Muslim, when the non-Muslim objects, we ourselves will respond to him. You have neither ever rendered any significant service in this regard before, nor will you be troubled now. Or else, obtain a power of attorney from them stating that their loss is our loss, and their victory is our victory. Then see how you get scolded.
